Shoe Rack Attachment

Abstract

An apparatus includes a shaped notch for supporting a shoe. The shaped notch has a “U” shape and a sufficient width and depth for retaining a toe strap of the shoe within the shaped notch, for retaining a connecting portion of a shoetree within the shaped notch and for retaining a toe portion of the shoe about the shaped notch. Left and right vertical extensions are joined to the shaped notch with left and right arcs for elevating the shaped notch. The left and right vertical extensions have sufficient lengths for enabling the shoe to hang freely from the shaped notch without deformation to an upper portion of the shoe. Each of the left and right arcs is rounded and generally forms an arc of 180 degrees. The left and right arcs and the shaped notch generally form a lazy “M” shape.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for supporting a shoe where the supporting means is suitable for retaining a toe strap of a shoe, for retaining a connecting portion of a shoetree, inserted in the shoe, and for retaining a toe portion of the shoe; and   means joined to the supporting means for elevating the supporting means and for enabling the shoe to hang freely without deformation to an upper portion of the shoe.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising means for joining the supporting means to the elevating means. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising means for supporting a plurality of supporting means joined to elevating means. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus comprising:
 a shaped notch for supporting a shoe, the shaped notch having a sufficient width and depth for retaining a toe strap of the shoe within the shaped notch, for retaining a connecting portion of a shoetree, inserted in the shoe, within the shaped notch and for retaining a toe portion of the shoe about the shaped notch; and   left and right vertical extensions joined to the shaped notch for elevating the shaped notch, where the left and right vertical extensions have sufficient lengths for enabling the shoe to hang freely from the shaped notch without deformation to an upper portion of the shoe.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising left and right arcs for joining the shaped notch to the left and right vertical extensions. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the left and right arcs and the shaped notch generally form an “M” shape. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 5 , wherein each of the left and right arcs generally forms an arc of 180 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the shaped notch generally has a “U” shape. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the left and right arcs are rounded. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the left and right arcs and the shaped notch generally form a lazy “M” shape. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the shaped notch, left and right arcs and left and right vertical extensions are formed from wire. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising a rack for supporting a plurality of shaped notches joined to left and right vertical extensions. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the rack supports the plurality of shaped notches joined to left and right vertical extensions in rows. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus comprising:
 a shaped notch for supporting a shoe, the shaped notch having a “U” shape and a sufficient width and depth for retaining a toe strap of the shoe within the shaped notch, for retaining a connecting portion of a shoetree, inserted in the shoe, within the shaped notch and for retaining a toe portion of the shoe about the shaped notch;   left and right vertical extensions joined to the shaped notch for elevating the shaped notch, where the left and right vertical extensions have sufficient lengths for enabling the shoe to hang freely from the shaped notch without deformation to an upper portion of the shoe; and   left and right arcs for joining the shaped notch to the left and right vertical extensions, where each of the left and right arcs are rounded and generally forms an arc of 180 degrees, wherein the left and right arcs and the shaped notch generally form a lazy “M” shape.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the shaped notch, left and right arcs and left and right vertical extensions are formed from wire. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising a rack for supporting a plurality of shaped notches joined to left and right vertical extensions. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the rack supports the plurality of shaped notches joined to left and right vertical extensions in rows.